No matter how much I tell myself this isn't real, I can't help but feel like it is. I'm doing everything I can to not get swept up in it, but I don't think anything's ever been harder for me. Plus, I have to appear excited. After all, I am the bride, fake or real.

It's not real.

Ava slings her arm around me and confesses, "You're the type of girl I always saw Sebastian with."

I furrow my eyebrows. "What do you mean?" I quietly ask, unsure if it's a compliment or if I should be insulted.

She smiles. "Don't worry, I meant it in a good way."

I exhale in relief.

She continues, "You're real. Plus, I can tell you love my brother. And he loves you differently than those horrible women he was with before."

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

Evelyn interjects, "What Ava is trying to tell you is that Sebastian always brought home the wrong women. He finally picked the right one. And we're thrilled you're joining our family."

I blink hard, fighting so many feelings I wish I could make disappear, including the guilt and shame of what Sebastian and I are doing.

This is wrong. The Cartwrights are everything I could ever hope for in a family. They've welcomed me with open arms. I always assumed whoever I married would have a family that would be as kind as they are, so I already know it'll be hard to leave them behind. But we're also lying to them.

Ruby pulls me out of my thoughts, declaring, "There's one more thing that we have to take care of, and we're going to have to do it first thing tomorrow."

"What's that?" I ask.

She smiles brightly. "We've got to go wedding dress shopping."

Fourteen

SEBASTIAN

Mason jumps off the Thoroughbred he named Dynamite. He opens the gate and joins my other brothers and me, declaring, "I think he's ready."

"Looks like it," I agree. I've spent the morning with my brothers, watching Jagger and Mason train their new horses. I've tried to get Georgia off my mind, but I can't.

I keep thinking about how she made me pancakes so delicious, I'd happily eat them every morning. After last night, it surprised me she'd do anything nice for me, especially something that's above and beyond.

Mason secures the gate. "Dynamite's going to win. I can feel it."

I stare at the horse, wondering for the millionth time this morning if Georgia has ever ridden.

I bet she knows how. She seems to know how to do everything.

If she doesn't, I could show her.

I'll bring her down here. Make it into a date.

A date?

What am I thinking?

My father arrives with Wilder and Ace. He booms, "Boys, time to cut the tree down."

Jagger mutters, "Oh, what fun."

Mason adds, "Yippee."